In what appears to be yet another U-turn at the Home Office, just two months after a previous decision on the matter of dealing with sex offenders [1] , it has been announced that parents will be given access to the names and addresses of child sex offenders. [2] While it is widely agreed that children should be protected from child molesters, such plans are unlikely to increase the safety of children; I have previously discussed that issue in detail. [3]

From the BBC article,

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"The right to ask for information on an individual is expected to extend to parents, guardians and carers [..] For the first time there will be circumstances where members of the public will have the right to request details of possible sex offenders who may have contact with their children."

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Now, let's consider what this actually means. The Home Office claims to be planning a situation where children will be protected from child molesters, without creating a dangerous situation where sex offenders are driven underground. I think they know, however, that if they invoke legislation which involves any members of the public gaining access to information about sex offenders, vigilante attacks will occur and dangerous people will be driven underground. We all know that child sex offenders are the most hated and reviled group within the UK, so I don't know how the people behind the current proposal can realistically expect such information to not be leaked within communities. There will never be a "controlled" release of such information; it is simply impossible when you consider the public's intense fear of sex offenders.

One must also consider how the authorities who govern the release of such information will verify the claims of people who supposedly require access to such data. The Home Office has not revealed how it will distinguish between a genuinely concerned parent and a vigilante intent on harassing someone who committed a minor sex offence 30 years ago. Such concerns must be addressed if this is indeed a serious proposal.

Another issue which has evidently been ignored is that of child sex offenders who actually offend as juveniles, such as a 14 year old who has a consensual sexual relationship with his 13 year old girlfriend. That specific act would be considered to be "rape of a minor" due to the age of the younger partner. When that person reaches the age of majority - or even before he reaches that age - will he labelled a child rapist within his community?

It is impossible to deny that some child sex offenders need to be controlled, namely those who actually have sex with children, however people who commit non-contact offences such as viewing illegal images [4] do not deserve such exposure, exposure which will drive them underground and potentially lead to them committing serious offences which do harm children.

The Home Office needs to explain how it will control the release of information which will inevitably spread like wildfire. It has so far been unable to do this.

[1] -  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6540749.stm
[2] -  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6737767.stm
[3] -  http://anu.nfshost.com/?p=84
[4] -  http://anu.nfshost.com/?p=108